Fodder-fork



(No Model.)

0. L. RUDIGER.

FODD ER FORK.

No. 427,271. Patented May 6, 1890.

//v VENTOI? A TTOHNE Y8 UNITED STATES ATENT v FFICE.)

CHARLES L. RUDIGER, OF OVERBROOK, KANSAS.-

FODDER-FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,271, dated May 6, 1890.

Application filed January 7, 1890.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. RUDIGER, of Overbrook, in the county of Osage and State of Kansas, have invented a new and Improved Fodder-Fork, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient implement, whereby corn-fodderor grain in sheaves may be gripped and lifted upon a wagon-bed or other elevated place of deposit, and be instantly released at the will of the operator.

. To this end my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters and numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. L

Figure l is a side elevation of the device. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the implement, taken in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 1, showing the fodder-clamping fork as it appears when viewed edgewise. Fig. 3 is a plan in section taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a detached view of a modified form for the keeper-bar of the device.

A represents the handle of the implement. It is made of suitable wood, cylindrical, of convenient diameter to be gripped, and of proper length for its use.

There is a single tine or bow A formed on or secured to the upper end of the implement. Preferably said bow is bent from the material composing the handle and integral therewith. The bow A is tapered toward its free end A for insertion of the same into a mass of fodder, and it should be of such size as to receive within it a sheaf of grain of usual size, or a bundle of fodder loose or tied.

Serial No. 336,154. (No modeh rated and pivotally secured to a similarly-perforated car on a ring traveler a that slides freely on the handle A. The limbs 1 2 of the keeper bar B are slightly elastic, and so bent from the point where they are hinged to the ring traveler a that the upper limb 1 will extend toward the free end A of the f0rk-bow A and have its terminal B in proximity thereto when the keepenbar is adjusted to clamp a sheaf or bundle of fodder or other grain-stalks within the bow of the fork. The keeper-bar B may also be made of a fiat elastic plate of steel, and have an eye ate for the loose connection of the ring traveler 0. as shown detached in Fig. 4, whereby a sliding attachment of the bar with the handle Awill be afforded. The keeper-bar is furnished with a handle 3 at its lower end for its convenient manipulation.

Upon the handle A a sleeve bis mounted to slide loosely. Said sleeve has two parallel lugs 17 formed on its surface near the upper end, between which the lower end of the keeper-bar limb 2 may be located when the sleeve is slid upwardly and suitably adjusted to align the parts. Preferably there is a longitudinal slot 12 made in the sleeve Z), through which a guide-pin b is inserted in the handle, and which limits the travel of the sleeve and retains the lugs 19 in proper alignment with the end of the keeper-bar B. A handle 19 is projected downwardly and outwardly from the sleeve 1) for reciprocation of the same when necessary.

' In use the material in sufficient quantity to fill the fork-bow A is placed therein and the keeper-bar B slid upwardly until its limb 1 bears firmly against the fodder or other grainstalks within the bow. The sleeveb is now moved up, so that the lugs 19' will lie on each side of the lower end of limb 2 of the keeperbar. Said end portion, by reason of the elasticity of the keeper-bar,will bear forcibly upon the sleeve, and thus hold the keeper-bar looked upon the material within the fork-bow. When the bundle of fodder is raised to the proper point for discharge, the handle 12 is pulled upon, so as to slide the sleeve 12 downwardly,

and as the bow portion of the device is turned to bear on some stable point and cause the material held by it to press on the keeper-bar said bar will partially revolve, assuming the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus releasing the material, which can be gently deposited at the point desired.

This device is of equal service in transferring fodder from a wagon body or racks to an elevated portion of a barn, Where, it is to be stored, and greatly expedites the operation, particularly if the fodder has been loaded unbound and has to be removed from thewagon in the same condition.

When the plate-spring keeper-bar shown in Fig. 4 is employed, the hinge-joint at a in Fig. 1 is dispensed with, as previously indicated, the ring a alone serving to connect the keeper-bar with the handle A. In this case the operation of releasing the keeper-bar requires a longitudinal sliding movement of the same after its lower end has been unlatched from the interlocking contact had with the lugs b on the sleeve 1), said lower end being sprung laterally a short distance to engage the groove between the lugs when it is adjusted to hold a bundle of straw or fodder in the bow A.

The keeper-bar B, in the preferred form shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as well as the modified form of the same, by its elastic force holds the ring traveler a frictionally engaged with the handle A, which, with the enforced contact of the lower end of the keeper-bar between the lugs Z), prevents slipping of the bar until it is designedly released.

Having thus described my invention, what placed in the fork-bow, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a handle, a bowed tine thereon adapted to partly embrace grainstalks or fodder, and a keeper-bar loosely secured to a ring traveler, and thus adapted to slide on the handle, of a sliding sleeve provided with a securing device for the lower end of the keeper-bar, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a handle, a bent tine thereon, a ring traveler, and a keeperbar loosely secured near its middle portion to the ring traveler, of asleevethat slides on the handle, and lugs on the sleeve which hold the lower end of the keeper-bar aligned on the sleeve, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination,with a rounded handle, a tapering bowed tine formed integral with one end of the handle, a ring traveler, and a slightly-elastic keeper-bar hinged to the ring traveler and adapted to close the opening of the fork-bow, of'a cylindrical sleeve placed on the handle and provided with two parallel lugs at its upper end and a handle, substantially as set forth.

CHAR-LES L. RUDIGER.

Witnesses:

B. J. RADcLIFF, T. J. KERR. 

